Picture Study Bible with Maps and Background Information
Daniel 11:36 "Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done.
36. The wilful king here, though primarily Antiochus, is antitypically
and mainly Antichrist, the seventh head of the seven-headed and
ten-horned beast of
Re 13:1-18,
and the "beast" of Armageddon
(Re 16:13, 16; 19:19).
Some identify him with the revived French emperorship, the eighth head
of the beast
(Re 17:11),
who is to usurp the kingly, as the Pope has the priestly, dignity of
Christ--the false Messiah of the Jews, who will "plant his tabernacle
between the seas in the holy mountain," "exalting himself above every
god"
(2Th 2:4;
Re 13:5, 6).
This last clause only in part holds good of Antiochus; for though he
assumed divine honors, identifying himself with Jupiter Olympius, yet
it was for that god he claimed them; still it applies to him as the
type. speak marvellous things against . . . God of gods--so
Da 7:25,
as to the "little horn," which seemingly identifies the two (compare
Da 8:25).
Antiochus forbade the worship of Jehovah by a decree "marvellous" for
its wickedness: thus he was a type of Antichrist. Compare
Da 7:8,
"a mouth speaking great things."
indignation . . . accomplished--God's visitation of
wrath on the Jews for their sins
(Da 8:19).
that . . . determined--
(Da 9:26, 27; 10:21).
Brief Summary: The angel Gabriel, in this chapter,
performs his promise made to Daniel in the foregoing chapter,
that he would "show him what should befal his people in the
latter days,'' according to that which was "written in the
scriptures of truth:'' very particularly does he here foretel
the succession of the kings of Persia and Grecia, and the
affairs of their kingdoms, especially the mischief which
Antiochus Epiphanes did in his time to the church, which was
foretold before ch. 8:11-12 ). Here is, I. A brief prediction of
the setting up of the Grecian monarchy upon the ruins of the
Persian monarchy, which was now newly begun (v. 1-4). II. A
prediction of the affairs of the two kingdoms of Egypt and
Syria, with reference to each other (v. 5-20). III. Of the rise
of Antiochus Epiphanes, and his actions and successes (v.
21-29). IV. Of the great mischief that he should do to the
Jewish nation and religion, and his contempt of all religion (v.
30-39). V. Of his fall and ruin at last, when he is in the heat
of his pursuit (v. 40-45).
Painting of Alexander the Great and his horse Bucephalus